Operating mechanism



Patented Mar. 7, 1922n c. vv. LARNER..

OPERATING MECHANISIW.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1918.

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CHESTER W. LARNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

Application filed March 9, 1918. Serial No. 221,365.

To alli/'whom t mag/'concern Be it known that I, CHEs'rER W. LARNnm a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented.

certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism, of which the followin is .a specification.

Y y invention relates to mechanism for operating various devices and is particularly adapted for use in connection with valves of hydraulic systems. .'In addition to operating such devices,.it is frequently necessary to operate such devices vfrom a distance and my invention provides means for doing this and at the same time indicating Von the device itself its condition as' to operation and also indicating at the point of control the condition of the device as to operation. To this end I provide a switch board provided with one or more switches and means controlled thereby tov operate the valves. n y

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one Jform my invention may take when .applied to valves of hydraulic mechanism, Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a switch board. Fig-2 is a transverse section through the switch. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the dotted line of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the switch and the mechanism which it controls to operate a valve. A A

.,On'the switchboard shown in Fig. 1, I have shown a chart to indicate a pipe 1 having branches 2, 3 and 4 in each of which is arranged one of my switches 5. Each switch 5 isprovided with a slot 6 which, as will hereinafter appear, indicates by its position on thediagram on the switchboard the condition of the valve to which it' eor` responds. Each of the switches 5 controls a valve 7 located in the hydraulic system on a pipe situated similarly to the location ofthe switch in the diagram on the switchboard. For instance, the switch located in the pipe 1 may control a valve located in the main inlet` ipe of the system and the switches located in the pipesf2 and 3 may control similarly situated valves in branches from the main pipe.

Each switch 5 consists of a base plate-8 of insulating. material which, in the'- gtorm shown, is circular and is provided with four cavities 9 in each of which is a splin 10 surrounding the stem of a contact 11. utside 'the contacts `11and surrounding the base plateS is a raised margin 12. An annular collar 13 also of insulating material and lntegral with an upwardly extending tube 14 has a bearing on ethe margin 12. Attached to the lower side of the collar, 13 1s a c ontact bar 15 adapted to engage and electrically connect two of the contacts 11. In the tube 14 -is a diagram 16 in which is a s1ot`6. .It will be observed that when the tube 14 1s turned the contact bar 15 may be caused to engage either pair of contacts 1l. Below the switch 5 is permanently mounted a lamp 17 and the contact bar 15 has an opening through its center and immediatelv between the slot.6 and the lamp 17 so that when the lamp is lighted the slot 6 will be illuminated.

In Fig. 4 I have shown one switch 5 and its associated lamp surrounded by the 'margin A to indicate the apparatus located at the switchboard. It will be understood that there may be any suitable number of such apparatuses located on one switchboard. I have also shown the'valve and the associated mechanism surrounded by the margin B to indicate the apparatus at the valve itself which may be at a distance from the switchboard. There may be any number of suitably situated apparatuses controlled from the switches of any switchboard. This arrangement' is particularly desirable when the operator is not so placed that he can observe the actual operation of the valves themselves but, of

course, my invention will be useful when there is no separation of the operator and mechanism to be operated. I have shown a valve diagrammatically at 7 arranged to be operated through a bar 18 which may-be pulled toward the left by the solenoid 19 to open the valve and towardthe right by the solenoid 2() to close the valve. I have provided an indicator 21 pivoted at or near the valve and engaged by a pin 22 carried by the bar 18 so that the indicator moves with the valve and indicates whether it is open or closed or moving from one position to the other. The indicator 21 when at the eX- treme left as shown in Fig. 4 engages a push button 23 4and forces it, against spring 24, out of contact with the contacts 25 and into engagement with the contacts 26. When the indicator 21 is moved toward the right by the closing valves it will release push button 23 opening the contacts 26 and closin the contacts 25. As the valve closes an the indicator 21 reaches the right hand limit 0f its movement it will engage the push button 27 supported by the spring 28, thus opening the contacts 29 and closing the contacts 30.

As shown in F ig. 4 it will be observed that the circuit for the solenoid 19 is open at the contacts 25 and the circuit for the solenoid 20 is open at the contacts 11, 11b and that one circuit for the lamp 17 is open at the contacts 30 while the other circuit for the lamp 17 is closed at the contacts 26. The closed lamp circuit runs from the positiveside ofy the line to the contact 11c through the Contact bar 15 and the contact 11d through the contacts 26 to the lamp 17 then over to the right and up and to the negative side of the line. It will be observed that this circuit for the lamp passes through the contacts of the switch 5 so that as the switch 5 is turned to the other position causing the contact bar 15v to engage the contacts 11a and 11b it will open the circuit through the lamp 17 and the lamp 17 will thus remain unilluminated until its other circuit is closed at .thecontacts 30 by the final movement of'the indicator 21 as the valve reaches the end of its travel.

Starting with the apparatus in the posi' tion shown in Fig. 4 the switch 5 may be moved so as to cause the contact bar 15 to engage the contacts 11a and 11b. This will close a circuit from the positive side of the line to the contact 11a (which is permanently connected to the contactv 11) through the contact bar 15 to the contac't 11b to the contacts 29 through the closing solenoid 2() to the negative side of the line. This will energize thev closing solenoid 20 and cause it to draw the bar 1,8 to the right thus start* ing the valve toward its closing position and moving the indicator 21 out of contact with the pushbutton 23 and allowing it to open the contacts 26 and close the contacts 25. As the valve reaches its fully closed position the indicator 21 will engage the push button 27 and cause it to open the contacts 29 and close the contacts 30. This will deenergizethe solenoid 20 at the contacts 29 and cause the apparatus to come to rest and at the same time close a circuit from the positive side of the line through the contact 11L and the contact bar 15 to the contact 11b through the contacts 30 through the lamp 17 and to the right and up and to the left to the negative slde df the line. It will be seen thus that the switch 5 in moving de,- energizes the circuit for the lamp 17 v and places the slot 6 in position to indicate a new position of the valve and that the valve then proceeds to move to its new position and when it nally reaches the new position the circuit for the lamp 17 is again automatically closed and the slot 6 illuminated. The switches may be arranged on the switchboard so that the slot 6 will be parallel with the sides of the pipe in the diagram when the switch is turned to cause the opening of its corresponding valve and so that the slot 6 is across the pipe in the diagram on the switchboard when the switch is turned to cause the valve which it controls to close. Inspection of the Switchboard will indicate the position of all the valves in the system. I have shown the switches in pipes l, 3 and 4 set to indicate the valves open. The switch shown in pipe 2 in the diagram on the switchboard is shown with its slot 6 running across the pipe indicating that the valve which that switch controls is closed or being closed. As soon as a switch is turned from one position to the other the corresponding light goes out and does not light again until the valve has performed the operation for which it is set. If any lamp is not illuminated it will indicate either that the valve to which it corresponds is moving from one position to another or that there is something wrong with that valve or its operating mechanism because the light will not burn unless the valve operates as called for by the switch.

It will be noted that as the valve moves toward its closing position the indicator releases the' push button 23 and allows the contacts 25 to close so that when the switch 5 is again turned to the position shown in Fig. 4 the circuit through the opening solenold 19 will be closed from the positive side of the line through the contact 11c and the contacts 25 to close so that when the switch contacts 25 through the solenoid 19 and to the negative side of the line.

I claim as my invention:

1. A valve, an Iindicator on the valve, a solenoid for opening the valve, a solenoid for closing the valve, circuits for the solenoids, contacts in the circuits, a switch for closing some of the contacts in the circuits for'the solenoids, an indicator on the switch, a lamp to illuminate the indicator on the switch, circuits for the lamp, a spring supported button for opening the circuit for the opening solenoid and closing the lamp circuit and operated by the indicator on the valve when the valve opens, and a spring supported button for opening the circuit for the closing solenoid and closing the lamp circuit and operated by the indicator on the valve when the valve closes.

2. A- device, an indicator on the device, a solenoid for moving the device in one direction, a solenoid for moving the device in the other direction, circuits for the solenoids, a-switch for closing contacts in the circuits for the solenoids, an-indicator on the switch, a lamp to illuminate the indicator on the switch, circuits for the lamp, a springF supported button for openin the circuit or one solenoid and closing the amp circuit operated by the indicator on the device when the device reaches the end of movement in one direction, and a spring supported button for'opening the circuit for the other solenoid and closing the'lamp circuit operated by the indicator on the device when the device reaches the end of movement in another direction.

3. A device, means for operating the device, a switch for controlling the means, an

' indicator moving with the switch to show the position of the switch and the intended position of the device, and a second switch operated by the device to deenergize the means and cause said indicator to show the arrival of the device into the intended posi tion.

4. A switch, a device controlled thereby, an indicator moving with the device, an indicator on the switch, and means controlled by the indicator on the device for illuminating the indicator'on the switch.

5. A switch, a movable device controlled thereby, an indicator moving with the switch to show the position of the switch and the intended position of the device, and means incorporated within the switch and controlled by the movement of the device for illuminating the indicator to show the arrival of the device into the intended position.

l 6. A switch, a device controlled thereby, an indicator moving with the switch to show the position of the switch and the intended position of the device, and rneans incorpor? 'cator moving with the switch to show the position of the switch and the intended position of the device, and means incorporated -within the switch and controlled by -the device for illuminating the indicator on the switch to show the arrival of the device into theintended position.

8. A device, an indicator on thedevisce,

electrical means for operating the device, a switch orcnergizing the means, an indicator on the swltch, a second lswitch operated by the first named indicator to de-energize the means and operate the second named indicator.

9. A valve, an indicator on the valve, solenoids for operating the valve, circuits for the solenoids, a switch for closing contacts inthe circuit for either solenoid, an indicator on the switch, a lamp to illuminate the indicator on the switch, circuits for the lamp,

solenoids for operating the valve, circuits for the solenoids, a switch for closing contacts in the circuit for either solenoid, an indicator on the switch', a lamp to illuminate the indicator on the switch, circuits for the lamp, and spring supported buttons for opening a lamp circuit and then opening a solenoid circuit and closing a lamp circuit operated by the indicator on the valve when the valve operates.

l2. A device, a switch controllingk the device, an indicator moving with the switch to indicate the controlled position of the device, and means incorporated within the switch for illuminating the indicator only when the device has reached the controlled position.

13. A device, means for moving the device, a diagram, a switch in thel diagram corresponding to the device and controlling the moving means, an indicator moving with the switch and showing by its position on the diagram the position of the device for which the switch is set, and means controlled by the device for causing the indicator` to show 'the arrival oit the device into the position tor which the switch 'is set.

CHESTER W. LARNER. 

